The Carling Currie Cup will reach a thrilling conclusion in Pretoria on Saturday when the Vodacom Bulls aim to win the title for the second consecutive season in a repeat of the 2020 final against the Cell C Sharks at Loftus Versfeld. It will be s the fifth time these two sides will battle it out for the title since 1990
The Vodacom Bulls topped the log with 49 points, nine more than the Cell C Sharks who finished second as these two teams set the pace for most of the season, much like 2020, although the KwaZulu-Natalians finished one spot higher on the final standings than last season.
After the Vodacom Bulls secured the title after a tense 100 minutes of high-octane action last season, the teams go into Saturday’s clash level on two final victories each.
Vodacom Bulls director of rugby, Jake White, has opted for consistency in the season finale, making only two changes to the team that overpowered DHL Western Province in the semi-final last week.
In the COVID-enforced absence of Springbok flyhalf Johan Goosen, White has handed the No 10 jersey to the experienced Chris Smith for the final, while Marcell Coetzee will again lead the hosts into battle against his former team-mates.
In the forwards, Joe van Zyl gets the nod for a starting berth at hooker, replacing Schalk Erasmus from last Friday’s fixture, while Jan-Hendrik Wessels will once again provide cover from the bench.
“The players have proven to be consistent over the past few weeks in their performances, so it is only natural that we continue with that consistency into this all-important Carling Currie Cup final,” said White.
“We expect a tough battle against the Cell C Sharks – a match that will be on par with test match rugby. The Cell C Sharks have been a formidable side throughout their campaign. They are well-coached, have talented players and are a driven group. So, we expect them to throw everything at us this weekend.
“We know what’s heading our way this weekend, and there is no doubt that rugby fans are in for a treat.”
Cell C Sharks Head Coach Sean Everitt mostly stuck with the team that beat Tafel Lager Griquas in last weekend’s second semi-final, but the return of Springbok prop Thomas du Toit to their front row will give the visitors a massive boost for the final.
Khwezi Mona has been named in place of Ntuthuko Mchunu in the front row while the return of Thomas du Toit from the Springboks is a timely boost, particularly for the expected battle upfront.
A new face has been included in the match 23, where replacement scrumhalf Lucky Dlepu is set to make his debut for the Cell C Sharks. The 21-year-old featured at age-group level for Western Province, captaining their Craven Week side in 2017, before making the move to Durban last year.
“It’s one-all in the Currie Cup, we’ve beaten them once and there’s no reason why we can’t do it again,” said Everitt.
“We know that the ball travels far at Loftus so we’re going to have to handle the aerial battle well, but we have three players – Curwin, Sanele and Lionel – who kick really well and will be up for the challenge.
“We know the Bulls have a massive pack of forwards, they are playing well and were sublime in their semi-final. It’s all about momentum, we know what’s coming our way with regards to how they play and the emphasis for us will be about stopping their momentum and stopping their big ball-carriers.”
With one of their league matches cancelled due to the unrest situation in KwaZulu-Natal, these two sides met only once during the Carling Currie Cup, with the Cell C Sharks winning by 35-28 in Durban just over a month ago, after the Vodacom Bulls had agreed to move their home game to Jonsson Kings Park.
Last season, the Vodacom Bulls won their clash in Pretoria by 41-14 in November (which formed part of Vodacom Super Rugby Unlocked), the Cell C Sharks were victorious in their league match in Durban in December (32-29), before the men in blue clinched the nail-biting Carling Currie Cup final at Loftus Versfeld in January (26-19).
Vodacom Bulls: 15. David Krie, 14. Cornal Hendricks, 13. Lionel Mapoe, 12. Harold Vorster, 11. Madosh Tambwe, 10. Chris Smith, 9. Zak Burger, 8. Elrigh Louw, 7. Arno Botha, 6. Marcell Coetzee (c), 5. Ruan Nortje, 4. Janko Swanepoel, 3. Mornay Smith, 2. Joe van Zyl, 1. Gerhard Steenekamp. Replacements: 16. Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 17. Simphiwe Matanzima, 18. Jacques van Rooyen, 19. Jacques du Plessis, 20. WJ Steenkamp, 21. Keagan Johannes, 22. Ruan Combrinck / David Coetzer, 23. Stravino Jacobs, 24. Reinhardt Ludwig, 25. Jaco Labuschagne, 26. Marco Jansen van Vuren, 27. David Coetzer, 28. Stedman Gans, 29. Schalk Erasmus.
Cell C Sharks: 15. Curwin Bosch, 14. Yaw Penxe, 13. Werner Kok, 12. Marius Louw, 11. Thaakir Abrahams, 10. Lionel Cronje, 9. Sanele Nohamba, 8. Phepsi Buthelezi (c), 7. Henco Venter, 6. Dylan Richardson, 5. Gerbrandt Grobler, 4. Le Roux Roets, 3. Thomas du Toit, 2. Kerron van Vuuren, 1. Khwezi Mona. Replacements: 16. Dan Jooste, 17. Ntuthuko Mchunu, 18. Khutha Mchunu, 19. Thembelani Bholi, 20. Reniel Hugo, 21. Lucky Dlepu* (debut), 22. Jeremy Ward, 23. Anthony Volmink.